Tech Talk: Properly Adjusting a Harley-Davidson Suspension
Making a few adjustments to your Harley’s suspension can make a big difference in ride quality.
Harley-Davidson suspension characteristics have improved significantly over the last few decades. But of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t improve the ride quality of your bike even further. And while making suspension adjustments might seem a little intimidating at first, the job isn’t too hard. To demonstrate, Matt Laidlaw of Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson put together this nifty little instructional video.
Since Harley outfits many of its new touring bikes with adjustable suspensions from the factory, tuning things up proves to be a snap. If you own a 2017 Touring or 2016-2017 Sportster (with the exception of the Superlow 1200t), you can simply follow the methods outlined in the video. This will allow you to properly set the suspension to handle the type of load you place on the bike.
Harley sets up the suspension on these bikes with some general settings from the factory. But given the variations that occur with the rider’s weight, cargo, and the potential for a passenger, some adjustment can reap benefits in the ride department. Without proper shock travel, ride quality can get quite harsh with too much weight on the bike.
On a Touring bike, you must first take off the left saddlebag to gain access to the shock. Next, figure out the maximum load you’re going to put on the bike. Then check the load chart in your bike’s owner’s manual to find out how many clicks you must turn the shock adjuster to compensate for that particular load. It’s just that simple.
The process for adjusting rear shock travel on a Sportster is essentially the same. You must first remove the seat to gain access to the adjustment wrench, however. Remove the rear seat screw and push forward and up to pop the seat off. The wrench is located on the bottom of the seat. Check your owners manual and use the wrench to adjust the shock accordingly. Then enjoy your new, even smoother ride!
